High-speed reduction gearing



July 22 1924. 1,502,175

c. F. CLAPHAM HIGH SPEED REDUCTION GEARING Filed Nov. 9, 1920 2 Sheets-SheM. .2

Patented July 22, 1924.

i n s'rrss isarzs (ll-IARLES F. ULAPHAM, OF NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

HIGH-SPEED REDUCTION GEARING.

Application filed November 9, 1920. Serial No. 422,802.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLEs F. CLAP- HAM, a subject of the King of England, residing at Newport News, in the county of Varwick and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in High-Speed Reduction Gearing, of which the following is a specification; g

This invention relates to high speed reduction gearing and has for its object the elimination of errors of alignment between thepinion and gear teeth due to wear of bearings, distortion of casing, errors of tooth cutting, which creep in even when the most accurate gear cutting means are used or other causes, and the obtaining of even distribution of load on the teeth in contact over the whole face width. It-is of great importance to avoid wear of teeth due to differences in stresses in various portions of the teeth and the vibration which will be caused by uneven load distribution. In order to obtain the desired result, the reduction gear pinion is made in two separate half sections, each sectionforming a hollow sleeve with a coupling at its outer end by which it is attached to the flexible driving shaft which passes through both sleeves. Each section of the divided pinion is mounted on an independent frame or bed, and the construction and mounting of these frames is such that it provides for the angular movement of each sectionxof the pinion in a plane tangential to the pitch circles of pinion and gear sections at the point of contact. The construction also provides for the longitudinal movement of pinion sections as a unit. The equality of forces on each section of the divided pinion is ensured by one section having righthand and the other left-hand helical teeth out at the same angle, the gear sections having teeth out to correspond and the pinion as a unit having free end play, and there fore being able to adjust itself and equalize the resultants of forces at the tooth contacts. The equality of the load along the length of the teeth in contactis ensured by the property of restrained tipping of the frames supporting each pinion section; these frames do not touch the housing, and by virtue of the rocking base with which each is provided in conjunction with the means employed to attach them to the bed of the reduction gear, each one is free to yield about the contact line of its base if the load from any cause becomes uneven along the width of the tooth faces. The pinion is connected; to turbine or other prime mover by the flexible shaft which also runs, through pinion sections, and by any suitable type of coupling which will permit longitudinal movementof shaft and pinion sections. part of the construction in order that little constraint shall be imposed on pinion sec- The flexible shaft forms tions or frames such as would prevent slight rocking of these frames on their bases.

By means of the construction outlined, when the device is in action, the separate but flexibly connected pinion sections, both in their longitudinal position in frames and in the angular position of each of their axes are completely under the control of the forces of reaction transmitted by theteeth of the large gear and give independent tooth bearing adjusting features toeach pinion sleeve section. Also with the divided pinion the power is transmitted from flexible driving shaft to pinion sections by means of coupling or key'attachments at outer endof each. Therefore itis obvious that the stresses in each will be equal, and that distortion ,of pinion sections due to torsional stresses will be much less than would be the case with a. solid or one piece pinion having the power. applied or delivl eredat one end; this small'torsional error in pinion teeth is automatically taken care of by the before described construction, as is also the torsion in that partof flexible driving shaft connecting the pinion sections together.

These and other details and objects of the inventionare more fully described in the following specification, set forth in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: v

Figure l is a plan view of the device with cover removed. The bearing covers of rocking frames are not showmand the divided pinion is shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken at A B (see Fig. 1). This View shows both rocking frames, the upper part of the one to the left being shown in vertical section along the centerline of the flexible driving shaft.

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the device taken at centerline C D (see Fig. 1). Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, illustrating diagrammatically the sliding or flexible coupling. v

The mechanism as a whole is mounted on a bedor-heusing 1. The large gear is mounted in bearings 2, which form a part ofthe housing, by means. of shaft extensions. 3. The shaft 3 is adapted to be connected by suitable means to the ship propeller shaft or other device which it is desired to drive from the high speed motor at, a reduced speed of revolution. I

The flexibleshaft 4 is adapted to be driven by the high speed motor, such as: a turbine, by means of the flexible or sliding coupling before mentioned it may be termed the pinion shaft as with the pinion sleeve sections 5- and 6- and the connecting 7 coupling 26-flanges-7 and 8,.it' forms this in:

tegr-al part of: the device. The pinion. shaft,

' througlr the medium of. its pinion. sleeve sections, is mounted in bearings. 9 which form. a part ofi rocking frame 11, and: in bearings -10 whiclr form a pant of rocking frame 12. The frames are mounted=on=suitable facings:13 and; 14; which: form a: part of tlie bed: or. housing 1', and: which are strongly ribbed and supported in order to malze'them as'rigid as practicable The underside of the frame bases-or thefacings on which they are mounted aremade' with a cylindrical: or beveledfsurface as shown; by the drawing, and; these'bases are a part of or solid with the lowerpart" 0fthe frames. The rocking frame bearing covers are indicated by. 17 and 18:

On each pinion SECtlOIlitllG'tflGtll are'cut at opposite helical: angles, the teeth 19 of the one meshing with. the conresponding'teeth1 of one section 21: of thelarge diameter gear, and the'teeth 2.0 of the otherzmeshingwith theotlier gear section. 22. r

The shaft. extensions 5,v gear sections 2.1 and. 22. and connecting drum'v 28, all form a rigid and. rotatory gear. Wheel unit:

The bases 15 and 16- of frames 11:. and 12 are:attachedtothebed l byboltsfla and 2-5. The bolts 25 are: holding down; bolts which are fitted along lines of contact between cylindrical base faces 15; and 16 and. facings 1-3I=and 14, that is, along centerlines ofibases atrright. angles to shaft axes. Thebolt-s- 24: and; 25 are intended to function; as elastic connections to the bed 1 through thisproperty of the-steelof which they are made, and by this-property, to regulate and restrain any rocking inotionof; the framesdueto forces caused by misalignment thebolts 24: will liavemore-movementto take care of thanzthe bolts 25-and therefore they are made longer innrdento provide the necessary. amount of elasticity and areanchored: in lower part of bed, but. as; an. alternative springs. or spring Washers may: be used in conjunction with these bolts; for eflecting thesame-pun pose, in. either; case. they still retain: their characteristic; of: GlELStlGi connections;

With further reference to the: pinionishaft it should be stated that the outerv flange of coupling T is formed on and is-pairt of the flexible shaft. The outer flange of coupling 8. is mounted and. fixed on flexible shaft by suitable means; in the drawing it is shown attached means of a screw thread on shaft, and is made a fixture and part of the rotatory element by. means of a key; this outer flange forms a means of adjustment for setting up the pinion teeth to. the. gear teeth. and shouldi simplify the. shop. work when? constructing? the. device.v

lit; is to; be noted that the large gear, including; the sections: 21; and 22 and: the-hollow sleeve pinion or'divided pinion includ: ing'the sections; 5. and 6a constitute; coacting gears... 1

Wlmt I claim. as: new is:

1. In; transmission. gearing. the combination of a; rigid. frame. having; bearings-,1 a shaft. with gear Wheels adapted. torotate' in the bearings, movable frames adapted to rock 011:. the rigid: frame. bolts adapted. to prevent lateralv displacement of; the. movable'frames; bolts: adaptedi to resiliently re? strainmovement of the: lateral frame, bearingsg 011 each IILOVlblGrflZHDB, hollow pinions meshing with. the gear wheel and mounted in the bearings of the movable frames, and the shaft: extendingtlirough. the: pinions; and connected thereto.

2. In. transmission gearing,v the combination; of a. rigid frame, a shaftjournalled in the same,l'helical: gear wheels on the: shaft, frames supported on rockers: and carried? by the rigid frame, retaining bolts-at the-.midrthe of; the; rockers, bolts at, the ends of the rockers, a flexible shaft, sleeves journalled in; the rocking: frames and. carried by the flexible shaft, and pinions: on the sleeves and meshing," with! the gear wheels.v

3.: In transmissiongearing, the combina; t-ion. of a: rigid frame,- a; shaft with. gear wheels journalled: inthe same, rocking frames; with;bearingssupported in the rigid frame, bolts. at. opposite: ends of. the; rock.- e-rs, sleeves jpurnalled in. the. bearings, a flexibleshaft in the; sleeves, flanges. securing the ends of. the: sleeves to the shaft, and pinions: 011': the sleeves andmeshing Withi the gear wheels.-

t; A toothed-wheel: gearing of the; class described comprising driver pinions, bear: ingbodies foreachdriver pinion, a bearing box, a. shaft forsaid. driver pinions and means for mounting said bearing bodies within said bearing. box so that they are adjustable; relatively, to. each other along; aplane passing. through the axes off said driver pinionsa 5. A. toothed-Wheel gearing comprising driver pinions; spur; wheels: meshing with saidv driver pinions, a bearing body in; which each driving pinion is. mounted, a. bearing box, supporting ribs formedon said. bearing box and means formed on said bearing bodies and cooperating with said supporting ribs for supporting said bearing bodies so that they may adjust themselves relatively to each other along a plane passing through the axes of said driver pinions.

6. A toothed-Wheel gearing comprising a pair of driver pinions, a shaft for said pinions, said shaft being of comparatively small 19 diameter, means connecting said shaft to said pinions at the outer ends of said pinions thereby allowing a clearance between said pinions and said shaft throughout the I remainder of said pinions, bearing bodies provided for each of said pinions, a bearing box and means for supporting said bearing bodies Within said bearing box whereby they may" adjust themselves relatively to each other along a plane passing through the axes of said pinions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES F. CLAPHAM. 

